With over 20 years of experience covering the Steelers for the Observer-Reporter, Dale Lolley will let you know the insider scoop. Dale can also be heard on the Steelers radio network pre-game show on WDVE-FM game days and Tuesday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. on ESPN 970-AM and WDVE during the season as a host of the Antonio Brown Show. Follow him on Twitter at @dlolleyor

At the completion of it all, the coaching staff brought both groups together - presumably to remind them that they are all on the same team.'

@ Every day the Mike Wallace holdout continues is one day closer to Plaxico Burress returning to Pittsburgh.

That's not a misprint.

Burress is definitely on the team's radar, and at some point, the Steelers are going to have to move on without Wallace.

Burress would be an immediate help to this team in the red zone.

@ LaMarr Woodley continues to dominate the backers on tight end blocking drill, regardless of who the Steelers put in front of him.

Don't know if that is because he's that good, the Steelers' tight ends behind Heath Miller aren't that strong or both. I'm leaning toward a little bit of both.

Tuesday, it was Woodley again completely rag-dolling David Johnson on three consecutive runs through the drill. Woodley looks primed for a big year.

@ The Steelers have been giving both Mortty Ivy and Stevenson Sylvester some work at outside linebacker in an attempt to find some position flexibility there.

Ivy didn't look all that strong at the point matching up against Jamie McCoy, who might be the most consistent blocker of all the tight ends behind Miller.

@ Miller, by the way, returned to practice on a limited basis today and looked good catching the ball.

Keenan Lewis, who was thought to be out for at least a couple of days with a shoulder injury, went through a full practice.

A little competition goes a long way.

@ First-year quarterback Jerrod Johnson made back-to-back perfect throws in the final team session, making a beautiful sideline throw to Marquis Maze down one sideline. Maze had a nice diving catch on the play.

Johnson then dropped a ball in perfectly to Tyler Beiler over Freeman.

Johnson is a big kid (6-5, 251) but shows good mobility in the pocket. He could push Charlie Batch off the roster.

19 comments:

Is Plax still being considered even though they just signed a 6'4" WR (Paul Cox)? I know Ben has been practically begging for a tall WR since Plax left. Is this the FO's way of appeasing him (maybe?) whilst saving some cap space for Wallace? Great reports as always, Dale.

signing burress would be nice. he's probably not as great as he was before, but still causes match-up problems for the defense. that's what it's all about.

the no-huddle emphasis is interesting, but i hope we don't see a return to the "tommy gun" era. it should still focus around ball control. interesting, that the steelers may be migrating towards a more "peyton manning like" offense right when arians leaves and goes back to indy.

I read from a couple other sources that Saunders is having a good camp, including his blocking. They said he looks stronger than a year ago. Does it look like he's struggling to you or does he look okay?

i track fantasy analysts twitter on the site Fantasy Football Aggregator or ffgator.com and a couple guys were talking about this as well but did not give much thought to Plax really heading back to Steel Town. would love to see the reunion with Big Ben and could be good for 8 - 10 TDs at least

Typical Ben. Meanwhile, he spends time after practice throwing. Haven't seen him hindered at all.

As for Saunders, he's still inconsistent. One play he'll look great. The next, not so much.But the tight ends behind Miller are unimpressive.Mark Bruener, who is working as a scout, is the second-best tight end in camp.

I have a little rotator cuff tear....it does happen...doesn't keep you from doing much...but will hurt like the dickens from time to time when you are goes to a certain position.....really is like the old joke. "Doc it hurts when I do this......then don't do that"